Pinot triumphs on penultimate day of Giro, Dumoulin limits damage

Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) limited his losses in the penultimate stage of the Giro d’Italia as Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) won the stage.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) retained the maglia rosa but, with the first four riders within 53 seconds of the Colombian, the Giro 100 is set for a dramatic finale tomorrow in Milano.

Dumoulin finished the 190-km stage between Pordenone and Asiago 15 seconds behind Pinot (FDJ), who beat Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) and Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) for the stage 20 victory that also gave him a 10-second time bonus.

Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R) took fourth place ahead of Quintana in the same time as Pinot with Dumoulin losing time after failing to follow the pure climbers in the last ascent.

“The time gaps are minimal and tomorrow is a flat time trial that is tailor-made for Dumoulin,” said Pinot.

Quintana leads Nibali by 39 seconds and Pinot by 43, with Dumoulin in fourth place overall 53 seconds off the pace.

Dumoulin has a big chance of leapfrogging the top three riders on Sunday in Milan to claim his maiden grand tour title.

“We tried to get a bigger gap but Tom has been very strong and is now the clear favorite tomorrow to win the race,” said Movistar team manager Eusebio Unzue.